U of I picks NFL owner as graduation speaker
CHAMPAIGN — The owner of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars will be the speaker at this spring’s commencement ceremonies at the University of Illinois.
Shahid Khan is a 1971 graduate of the university’s Engineering School. The native of Pakistan also owns the Urbana-based Flex-N-Gate Corporation and lives in the city.
University spokeswoman Robin Kaler told The News-Gazette that Kahn came to the university in 1967 without much more than his admission letter and a place to stay at the local YMCA.
Khan and his wife, Ann Carlson Khan, have also been major donors to the university. Their donations have, among other things, financed the school’s tennis complex.
Graduation ceremonies will be held May 12.
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